Carolina BBQ Sauce

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If you’ve ever traveled through the Carolinas, you know that barbecue isn’t just food – it’s a way of life. And just as the barbecue changes from region to region, so does the sauce. While Eastern North Carolina swears by vinegar and red pepper, South Carolina is all about the bold, tangy kick of mustard.

This mustard-based Carolina BBQ sauce is the perfect balance of tangy, sweet, and smoky with just the right amount of heat. It’s smooth enough to brush on ribs or chicken while they cook, yet thick enough to drizzle over pulled pork sandwiches.

Why You’ll Love This Sauce

• Authentic flavor: Classic South Carolina style—tangy mustard paired with honey and brown sugar for a sweet finish.
• Versatile: Use as a mop sauce, finishing glaze, or dipping sauce.
• Easy to make: Just 20 minutes on the stovetop and you’re done.

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups yellow mustard
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce (adjust to taste)
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

1. In a medium saucepan, whisk together yellow mustard, apple cider vinegar, honey, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce.

1. Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring occasionally.
2. Add garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, black pepper, and salt to the sauce. Continue to simmer for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally to allow the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken slightly.

1. Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning and hot sauce according to your preference.

Once the sauce has reached the desired consistency and flavor, remove it from the heat and let it cool. Transfer the Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce to a clean, airtight jar or bottle.

Round out your BBQ feast with some true Southern classics. Pair this tangy Carolina BBQ sauce with crisp Pineapple Coleslaw or tangy Vinegar Slaw. For dessert, serve a slice of Easy Strawberry Cake or a warm Blackberry Cobbler to give your meal the perfect sweet Southern finish.

Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce

Made with yellow mustard, vinegar, honey, and spices, this Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce comes together in just 20 minutes and adds bold flavor to any barbecue spread.

5 from 2 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Sauce

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 8

Calories: 105kcal

Author: Lynda – Southern Kissed

Ingredients

• 1 ¼ cups yellow mustard
• ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
• ⅓ cup honey
• ⅓ cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
• ½ teaspoon hot sauce adjust to taste
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ teaspoon salt

Instructions

• In a medium saucepan, whisk together yellow mustard, apple cider vinegar, honey, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce.
• Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring occasionally.
• Add garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, black pepper, and salt to the sauce. Continue to simmer for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally to allow the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken slightly.
• Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning and hot sauce according to your preference.

Notes

To make the barbecue sauce sweeter, add more honey. Start by adding a teaspoon or two, then taste and adjust. Honey will not only sweeten the sauce but also balance out the acidity of the vinegar.

For a thicker sauce, you can simmer it for a bit longer over low heat, allowing some of the liquid to evaporate and the sauce to reduce. If it is too thick, you can thin sauce by adding a bit of liquid. Water or vinegar are good choices for this purpose. Start by adding a small amount, such as a tablespoon at a time, and stir well. Continue to add liquid until you reach your desired consistency. Keep in mind that the sauce will thicken further as it cools, so it’s a good practice to slightly under-thin it if you plan to use it later.

If you like your sauce on the “tangy” side, you can increase the amount of apple cider vinegar. Start by adding an extra tablespoon or two at a time, then taste and adjust until you achieve your desired level of tanginess.

If you are a fan of all things spicy, you can adjust the level of heat in this recipe. As written, this sauce isn’t very spicy. However, if you are looking for some heat simply add more hot sauce. Start with a small amount and taste as you go, gradually increasing until you reach your desired level of heat. You can increase the heat even more by adding red pepper flakes.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.25cup | Calories: 105kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 593mg | Potassium: 98mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 91IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 1mg

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Serving Ideas

• Brush onto smoked ribs or grilled chicken for a tangy glaze.
• Drizzle over pulled pork sandwiches (try it with my Quick and Easy Chicken and Dumplings for a Southern-inspired feast).
• Use as a dipping sauce for homemade biscuits or hush puppies (Southern-Style Biscuits are perfect for this).
• Pair with sides like Pineapple Coleslaw or Vinegar Slaw for a true Carolina-style spread.

Tips & Variations

• Sweeter version: Increase honey or brown sugar for a sauce that leans sweeter.
• Spice it up: Add extra hot sauce or a pinch of cayenne for more heat.
• Make it smoky: Swap smoked paprika for regular paprika to deepen the flavor.

Last Bite

This mustard-based Carolina BBQ sauce is tangy, sweet, and just the right amount of smoky -perfect for anyone who loves bold flavor. Once you try it on pulled pork, chicken, or ribs, you’ll see why it’s a South Carolina classic.

👉 Have you tried mustard-based barbecue sauce before? Let me know in the comments, and don’t forget to share this recipe with your BBQ-loving friends!